38 37.21 layer.txt (1/2)

It was common knowledge to labyrinth explorers that the level of difficulty was significantly different from the 21st level.

In the past, the Allies had spent less than a year to capture the 20th level. However, it took more than ten years to capture the twenty-one to twenty-three layers.

It seems that one of the reasons for this was the loss of many elites due to the 20th tier tida, but the main reason was the change in the quality of the labyrinth more than anything else.

In the lower levels, no large monsters would appear, but after the 20th level, countless large monsters would spring up and appear. It would be extremely difficult to construct the 'Righteous Path' among them.

Naturally, the Allies began to loosen up their attack, and after the 20th layer, they began to think that it was 'not worth it'. Just when the issue of funding was also coming up, the teachings of the continental bishops were not enough of a boost.

--The Allies changed their mindset.

If you reach the deepest part, you'll be given legendary honors - but now that it's clear that no one will get there, you'd better have a more fruitful story to tell.

The location here is good.

It's in the heart of the settlement, close to the sea, and the climate is kind.

The Confederacy is built around it.

Everyone decided that it would be better for the country to take advantage of its economy rather than capture the labyrinth. People would be lured by the sweet juice of the labyrinth, so there was no reason not to take advantage of it. The movement of people in and out of the city is important for a vibrant economy. This land fulfilled all those conditions.

Each king in each country would focus on the continental economy instead of capturing the labyrinth.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the entire Confederation had changed direction.

Once that happened, it was over.

The country's attack on the labyrinth after the 23rd layer was completely terminated.

The only thing that can be said from this story is one word.

It can be summed up in one word.

--The 20th layer and beyond is ”not worth it”.

The only people who challenge it are those who are either very fond of things, idiots, or loved by the heavens.

That's the common sense of the Allies.

There was one girl who danced happily against the monsters while screaming with joy at the 21st layer.

''Haha, hahahahaha--!　Strong!　Oh, my God, oh, my God!　Oh, there he goes, Christ!　Hahaha!

She's a very curious, stupid, and heavenly girl, Rastiara, who is loved by the heavens.

Currently, we are in the middle of exploring the 21st level of the labyrinth.

There are two monsters that Rastiara missed out on that are coming towards us.

They are both large monsters.

Earlier, even a single minotaur was too much trouble, but now there are two stronger than that.

''Maria, don't ever get out from behind me!　So many enemies!　It's not safe to get too far away!

Yes!

The enemy is Fury, a four-armed, four-legged monster covered in pitch-black body hair.

He is a slow-moving but troublesome monster with literally too many hands.

I use a single sword to attack the approaching Fury's powerful arm.

I strike the side of his arm with all my might to deflect it, and at times I retreat, holding Maria in my arms.

You can't fight a battle where mobility is paramount. This is because in a layer with such a high rate of monster appearances, Maria cannot be placed far away from you.

Inevitably, the battle will be fought while protecting Maria.

-- ”I won't know if Maria is dead.

Today, before I entered the labyrinth, Rustyala's words come to mind.

I decide that I can't leave it out and shout.

''-- Magical ”Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradient),” ”Multiple Expansion (Multiple),” ”Form,” ”Ice,” ”Freeze”!

All the magic is unleashed.

It's a torrent of all magic by an order of magnitude different from the first day.

Unleashing massive amounts of magic bubbles and taking stock of every space in detail. Of course, he also mixes in bubbles that are laden with freezing magic. At the drop of a hat, it is designed to freeze the enemy at the drop of a hat. At the same time, it also lowers the temperature of the entire space. I'm not going to be able to get any more than that. By doing this, it will be easier to refine both the Ice Freeze Arrow and Dimensional Snow magic.

I strike away the four arms of the approaching Fury with my sword.

This is the first time since the Tida battle that I've wielded my sword in such a rash manner.

It's not often that my magic nature allows me to fight by force. I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them.

It's really hard to have any room to spare--then using Maria as a decoy to escape would be the right answer.

”d*mn--!

But my mind boggles.

Not long ago, I was able to sacrifice someone else. As a matter of course, I was able to calmly count my losses and gains with numbers and move calculatingly. But now it's different.

When did it all start?

Why did I love Maria so much?

It's only when I'm in a tight spot that I become frustrated with the new problems that have arisen.

That frustration slows down my movements and Fury's arm snatches my shoulder.

'Ouch--!'

With a mere snatch, the cloak is torn off, the skin peels and blood flies.

It's dangerous at this point.

It's physically and mentally demanding.

If you have any more sense of danger, that skill of ”? will be triggered. The confusion that had spontaneously recovered will increase again.

The mixed thoughts of impatience and hesitation are slowing my judgment.

''Master--!

It's all right, Maria!　We're almost there and Rustyala will take care of it!

I turn my attention to Rastiara, who is fighting in the distance.

There was a figure there that was destroying monsters like a demon god.

That's right.

This battle is a battle that can be won by buying time.

The skill '??' There is no need to use the skill '??' to clear your mind of hesitation.

All you have to do is wait until Rastiara, who is moving freely, has been annihilated.

Rastiara is alone and continues to reduce multiple Furies. If we buy her time, she will break this crisis.

So, this is where we have to be patient and endure, a long term posture.

So, as I concentrate on intercepting them, the two Furies attack me in a pincer movement.

But the position is good.

I activate some of the magic 《Dimensional Snow (Di Snow)》 that was near the enemy. Fury, whose body suddenly started to freeze, loses his stance and the two bodies collide with each other with the momentum they have.

In the meantime, I take a distance from the two bodies with Maria in my arms and loudly check the situation of Rustyala.

''Not yet!　Rastiara!

'Yes, yes!　Here you go!

Finally, Rustyala turns all the Furies he was taking on into light and runs to our reinforcements.

From there, it was only a moment.

The two Furies, who were blocked by my freezing magic and were showing gaps in their movements, took a decent bite from Rustiala's sword strike.

Rastiara's sword pierces the Fury's vital point.

The Fury's screaming opponent, Rustyala relentlessly pursues the Fury with a follow-up attack. He makes his sword dance like a whirlwind that surrounds him.

It's a speed that Fury can't keep up with. This is not a good thing.

Soon after, the two remaining Furies fell to the ground, splattering a large amount of blood.

Then, after confirming that all the Furies had turned into light and disappeared, I immediately dispatched an instruction.

''-- Retreat!　Retreat!　Let's go back to layer 20!

'Yes, master!

Picking up the magic stone was also a bummer, and we headed back the way we came from and headed to the 20th layer.

Rastiara was complaining next to me, but I ignored her.

Avoiding the enemy with magic 《Dimension》, we run to the space on the 20th level.

''Haha, haha ......''

Hah, hah, hah ......!

We reach the safe zone and me and Maria breathe.

Then Rustyala takes out his frustration on us.

'Hey. Why did you retreat?'

'I've never heard of an enemy this strong: ......

Yeah, I said it. I told you, I'm a little strong. Be careful out there.

I was foolish to believe that, and I was stupid enough to try to level Maria in layer 21. I have to be more mindful of the fact that this guy's values are off.

'That wasn't a bit. Quite a bit, quite a bit.

'Quite?　I wonder: ......?

'Anyway, fighting on the 21st level is too different, so we're not going to do it today. If we don't, Maria won't be able to join us.